Gravel can be sized with a do-it-yourself soil sifter.
To size gravel for home projects, a soil sifter is an indispensable tool. It is made from steel mesh stretched across a wooden frame, and you accomplish the sizing by sifting gravel through the mesh. Sifters have a number of uses in gardening and homesteading; in addition to sizing gravel, you can use them to dust fertilizers evenly onto your home garden, clean seeds and create debris-free potting soil. You can even use cleaned screens to dry fruits and store vegetables that need air circulation to remain fresh. Once you have made the sifter, sizing gravel is a simple process.
Instructions
Building the Sifter
1. Assemble all your materials on a flat, work surface.
2. Cut a 2-foot section of wire from the roll using the wire snips.
3. Screw the two 20-inch end boards to the two 24-inch side boards, using the power drill and at least two screws per corner. Drill through the side pieces and into the ends of the cross pieces. You should have a simple frame with the two shorter pieces screwed inside the ends of the longer pieces, like a ladder that's been cut off just above and below two of the rungs.
4. Place the pre-cut piece of wire steel mesh on top of the frame, and affix it on all four sides with the steel screw-in plates, using the drill to make sure the screws are in securely. The mesh will be stiff and should not require stretching, but make sure it is pulled smooth and there are no bends in it.
5. Trim the ends of the mesh with the wire snips.
Sizing the Gravel
6. Place the sifter across the top of the box or wheelbarrow so any debris can be caught in the receptacle.
7. Shovel gravel or gravel-permeated dirt on the sifter. Wear work gloves to protect your hands.
8. With your hands or a trowel, sift and push the gravel or debris through the sifter until the only pieces of gravel left are the desired size or larger.
9. Pick out any outsize pieces of gravel, and save the desired size of gravel in a bucket.
Tips Warnings
This basic pattern is adaptable to different sizes of wood and mesh, as well as different joining methods, depending on your needs and carpentry skills. If desired, you can also sand and paint the wood.
Tags: sift, size, gravel, desired size, make sure, pieces gravel, size gravel, soil sifter, steel mesh, wire snips, your hands
